I'm a Calgary rider that road trips out to the Southern BC area as frequently as I can.

Every time I've been in Nelson, I've been running the DH bike with a 2.5 minion Fr and a 2.35 minion Rr. I've never been out to that area for an XC ride, but I'd imagine that a set of nevegals or rampages would do great there (I personally wouldn't go smaller than a 2.35 in the front).

If you don't get the amount of responses to this question that you're hoping to hear, I would repost it over on nsmb.com since you'd have a much better chance of getting responses from some Nelson locals (if those hippies even own any computers out there )